Dons bag Madrid's Benavente

17 July 2015

mkdons.com

MK Dons have signed highly-rated Peru international Cristian Benavente from Real Madrid Castilla, subject to international clearance and FA approval.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has penned a two-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months, after completing a medical at stadiummk on Friday. He joins on a free transfer and becomes Karl Robinson’s fifth signing of the summer.

Dubbed the ‘Peruvian Ronaldinho’, Benavente has featured 33 times for Real Madrid’s reserve side, managed by Zinedine Zidane, scoring three goals. He also has collected eight caps for his national side, Peru.

Speaking to mkdons.com, the versatile forward said: “I’m so happy to be here in this stadium and in this city. (MK Dons) is a really good club with good people and I’m excited to start training and playing.”

Dons boss Karl Robinson added: “Cristian came on our radar about a month ago. We knew of him and I was able to speak to one or two of my contacts in Madrid about him. We did a lot of due diligence behind the scenes and didn’t get one bad report.

“He will take time to settle in England because of the way he plays but I feel we’re a club that suits him. There is an unpredictably about it but he’s been schooled in a wonderful way having been with Real Madrid since the age of eight.

“He has an ability to play in a number of positions. He is one for the future but hopefully he can make an impact now as well – he’s certainly an exciting talent.”